Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: chrisdaggs on August 06, 2018, 03:55:08 pm
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I was wondering if it is a good idea to recurve the limbs of a bow if it has any set? If so would it help? My first completed bowhas taken about an inch and 3/4 or more of set . I still love to shoot it but wondering if it could improve the performance?
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Try it and you'll have an accurate answer.
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Possibly. How long is it and what is your draw length? A full draw pic always answers a lot of our questions as well.
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The bow itself is 69" tip to tip it still draws 50lbs @28". unfortunately I can't get the picture to fit the size to attach
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That is plenty of length for your draw, no matter the wood you used. The amount of set you have isn't so bad. If the bow is tillered well, then recurve the tips and see what you come up with. Expect about 3-7# increase depending on how long the recurves are and how much recurve you add. If anything? You will learn a little something along the way.
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Thanks. It is actually made of oak and backed with rawhide. WIll heating the bow ruin the backing
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The rawhide and glue won't hold up to any appreciable degree of heat necessary for recurving. You'd have to strip it off and re-glue.
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Good question. Unfortunately I ask the same question too often over dozens of self-bows. But I seldom do anything and just make more bows. I would try heat treating the belly first, reflexing the whole limbs slightly up to the amount of set. If that holds, it might be worth while to recurve the tips up to 2 inches. If you want you can simply recurve the tips up to 2 inches more than the set. Good luck.
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Thanks for the information I will let you know how it turns out.
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You don't need rawhide the last 8-10" anyhow as its stagnant, peel it off before you heat it up and don't bother replacing it.
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Strap it up straight or with maybe 1/2" block under the grip to give a hint of back set and heat treat the belly.
I've done this on a few bows and re-vitalised them. Re-tillering may be necessary to avoid any problem areas just taking set agian.
Be warned, if you try for too much back set you may crack the belly, but even that is repairable with a patch.
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2014/04/refurb-progress.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2014/04/refurb-progress.html)
Del
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It has been my experience that recurving finished bows often leads to cracking in the curve and misaligned limbs, proceed with caution.
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In most cases if a bow took set it will just take more set if you recurve the tips. If the bow took set because it had tiller problems and you fix the tiller problems after recurving you may improve it.
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In most cases if a bow took set it will just take more set if you recurve the tips. If the bow took set because it had tiller problems and you fix the tiller problems after recurving you may improve it.
+1 what Steve said.
Maybe piking that stick to 64" or so, fix the tiller problems andheat the whole limb into reflex would help. Don't go for exessive reflex.
If it's me - I would make a new one. With more patience esp. through the tillering process.
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You got some good advice from some awesome bowyers. 1 3/4” of set on your first completed bow is really not bad. I would keep it as is and start on another one.
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I wont assume his bow isn't tillered well because it took set. I don't know about you guys, but I cant build an oak board bow (or ANY bow) without set, unless I make it 80" long and 2" wide. If you start with a flat board and it takes 1.75", you're doing well in my little book of bow building. If a fella isn't content with a bow then the bow never gets used. Why not try it and learn something on the way? Experiment now and make the next one even better. That's always been my attitude.
Please understand I'm not arguing or disagreeing with the experts. I just see it differently in this case.
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The bow itself is 69" tip to tip it still draws 50lbs @28". unfortunately I can't get the picture to fit the size to attach
How are you trying to post the pics? There are a few easy (and free!) ways to resize your pics to get them posted. I usually open them up with MS Paint and reduce the size that way (by using the Resize by Percentage tool). Then, I upload the pics to Imgur and repost them here (although you can upload the resized pic directly, I just happen to like Imgur!).
It would be cool to see the before and (hopefully) after pics of your bow. Good luck!!
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I have to agree with Badger it will probably continue to take more set. That's not much set on a oak bow. If you want a recurve just build another bow. Arvin
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I have decided to shoot this one as is but trying a new bow with backseat handle and slightly recurve limbs. The bow shoots well and still draws 50lbs @28" I have just to busy to respond but thank you for all the good advice.